Twins Retired Numbers

Twins' all-time retired numbers

Since the Twins moved to Minnesota in 1961, they've retired seven numbers, including five players who are in the Baseball Hall of Fame.

The franchise doesn't have a specific criteria for retired numbers, but it's clear from the seven numbers they've retired that only those who had a significant impact on the organization receive that honor.

Harmon Killebrew - #3

B-T: R-R

HT: 5-11; WT: 214

BORN: June 29, 1936, Payette,ID

CAREER: A member of the Twins from their inaugural Minnesota season in 1961, Killebrew hit 573 career home runs, 475 of them in his 14 seasons with the Twins, to place him 5th on the all-time home run list and second only to Babe Ruth in American League history. He hit over 40 home runs on eight occasions and 30-or-more 10 times while driving in 100-plus runs nine times.

Killebrew was the American League's Most Valuable Player in 1969 when he hit 49 home runs with an amazing 140 RBI and 145 walks, all team records that still stand. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame on January 10, 1984, the first Twin to receive that honor.

HOW OBTAINED: Signed as a free agent, June 21, 1954.

Tony Oliva - #6

B-T: L-R

HT: 6-2; WT: 190

BORN: July 20, 1941, Pinar del Rio, Cuba

CAREER: Pedro "Tony" Oliva Jr., or "Tony-O" to those who followed his 24-year career as a Twins' player and coach, was a man who seemed to excell in all aspects of the game. He could hit for power and average, run, field and throw, and his versatility made him one of the most feared hitters of his day.

Oliva collected 1,917 hits and retired with a .304 career average. He is the only player to win batting titles in his first two seasons and was the winner of three in his 15-year career, which still stands as the club's longevity mark. His prowess as a hitter was demonstrated in the fact that he lead the league in hits five times, and his 220 career home runs rank third all-time among Twins.

HOW OBTAINED: Signed as a free agent, July 24, 1961.

Kent Hrbek - #14

B-T: L-R

HT: 6-4; WT: 260

BORN: May 21, 1960, Minneapolis, MN

CAREER: Hrbek, who was the runner-up to Cal Ripken for American League Rookie of the Year in 1982, made his only All-Star appearance that season. He was most appreciated by his teammates and Twins' fans for his upper-deck power and agility for being one of the best to ever play first base in the majors. He is among club leaders in nearly every offensive category, but may be best-remembered for his Game Six grand slam in the 1987 World Series or for his tag of Ron Gant in Game Two of the 1991 World Series. Hrbek had his number 14 formally retired on August 13, 1995.

HOW OBTAINED: Twins' 17th-round draft choice in 1978.

Rod Carew - #29

B-T: R-R

HT: 6-0; WT: 182

BORN: October 1, 1945, Gatun, Panama Canal Zone

CAREER: Carew was a career .328 hitter in his 19 major league seasons and was the winner of seven American League batting titles, all during his twelve years with Minnesota. Carew hit .300 or better 15 consecutive seasons and finished his career with 3,053 hits, which places him 16th among the all-time hit leaders and makes him one of only 21 players to collect 3,000-or-more career hits.

Carew, who won his only American League Most Valuable Player award in 1977 when he finished with a .388 average, was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame on the first ballot, January 8, 1991. He had his number 29 retired on July 19, 1987.

HOW OBTAINED: Signed as a free agent, June 25, 1964.

Kirby Puckett - #34

B-T: R-R

HT: 5-9; WT: 223

BORN: March 14, 1961, Chicago, IL

CAREER: Considered by most to be the greatest Twin ever, "Puck" was baseball's jewel for 12 incredible seasons. His story was about being a hero from day one when he became the ninth player in history to collect four hits in his first game, May 8, 1984 at California. The dramatic entrance proved to be just the first of many heroic performances leading up to his most shining moment on October 26, 1991, during Game 6 of the World Series versus Atlanta. He went 3-for-4, made a leaping catch off the plexiglas robbing Ron Gant of a sure extra-base hit and became the ninth player to end a World Series game with a home run on the final pitch off Charlie Leibrandt in the 11th inning to force a seventh game.

The first-ballot Hall of Famer (inducted in 2001), 10-time All-Star, 6-time Gold Glove Award winner and 5-time Silver Slugger Award winner had his career cut short when he awoke with blurred vision caused by glaucoma on the morning of March 28, 1996. He was later forced to announce his retirement due to irreversible damage to the retina in his right eye on July 12, 1996. He retired as the Twins' all-time leader in hits (2,304), doubles (414), total bases (3,453), at-bats (7,244) and runs (1,071).

HOW OBTAINED: Twins' 1st-round draft choice in 1982.

Bert Blyleven - #28

B-T: R-R

HT: 6-3; WT: 207

BORN: April 6, 1951 in Zeist, Netherlands

CAREER: Bert Blyleven was armed with outstanding control and a wicked curveball that proved to be one of the toughest to hit in the history of the game. The tall right-hander with a fluid pitching motion came to the majors at 19 and remained durable over 22 big league seasons with five different teams, garnering 287 wins and 60 shutouts. The "Dutch Master" also compiled 3,701 strikeouts, baseball's third highest career total at the time he retired.

HOW OBTAINED: Twins' 3rd-round draft choice in 1969.

Tom Kelly - #10

B-T: L-L

HT: 5'11" WT: 188

BORN: August 15, 1950 in Graceville, MN

CAREER: Minnesota's record under Kelly's leadership is 1,140-1,244. He led the Twins to their first World Championship over the St. Louis Cardinals in 1987, his first full season on the job. A second World Series title followed in 1991 after a dramatic Game 7 victory over the Atlanta Braves.

During his storied career, the man known as 'TK' has had the chance to manage hundreds of players, including current and future Hall of Famers like Steve Carlton, Dave Winfield and Paul Molitor. Then of course, he managed the most popular Twin of all, Kirby Puckett.

HOW OBTAINED: Kelly was signed as a minor league free agent by the Twins in 1971.

Jackie Robinson - #42

In 1947, Jackie Robinson became the first African American man to play in the Major Leagues.

Number retired throughout baseball in 1997.

Played for Brooklyn Dodgers from 1947-56.

From his Baseball of Fame Plaque: "Leading NL batter in 1949. Holds fielding mark for second baseman playing in 150 or more games with .992. Led NL in stolen bases in 1947 and 1949. Most Valuable Player in 1949. Lifetime batting average .311. Joint record holder for most double plays by second baseman, 137 in 1951. Led second baseman in double plays 1949-50-51-52."